Clarke gets through SCG fitness test

Australia captain Michael Clarke appears on track to play against Sri Lanka in Sydney after completing a lengthy fitness test at the SCG on Tuesday.

Usman Khawaja is with the squad on stand-by in case Clarke's hamstring problem rules him out of the match, which starts on Thursday.

But the skipper seemed to come through unscathed when put through his paces by team physio Alex Kountouris, combining running and walking exercises for nearly 30 minutes.

Clarke was troubled by the hamstring issue before the second Test in Melbourne last week but pulled through to make a century.

Given the third Test is a dead rubber, the Australians will not want to risk their leader and premier batsman.

But every indication is Clarke will play at the SCG in veteran Michael Hussey's last match in the Baggy Green.

Australia opener Ed Cowan says he will be surprised if Clarke is a withdrawal.

"He's certainly much better than he was two days out from the Melbourne Test and we saw what happened there," he said.

"He's right to go mentally, and physically I imagine he'll get up for the Test match."

Meanwhile, first drop Phil Hughes says the SCG Test for him is more about cementing his place in the Australian team than reflecting on being back at his former home ground.

Hughes has only played two Tests at the SCG for a highest score of 37, but the left-hander spent years piling on Sheffield Shield runs at his home state venue before seeking a fresh start at South Australia this summer.

The 24-year-old was pleased to be back in familiar surrounds in his third coming as a Test batsman, but was more focused on ensuring he stayed in the line-up this time.

"It's about getting runs and performing. I really want to cement myself in this team," Hughes said.

"I've been in and out of the team a number of times over the last three or four years. But I'd really like to cement my spot at that number three position, given that opportunity.

"There's no particular ground I love the most ... probably if anything, it's the MCG or Adelaide.

"But I do love the SCG and it's great to be back here."

Australia paceman Peter Siddle says the Test will be an emotional one for all involved given the death of respected former cricket great and commentator Tony Greig last Saturday and also the imminent Test retirement of Hussey.

"We'll go out and hopefully put on a good show and honour those people involved," he said.

Cowan also highlighted the need to send Hussey out a winner, while stressing this is an opportunity for the younger members of the squad to stand and be counted.

"We've seen people like Ponting and Hussey and those kind of guys set standards around training, around how the team behaves on and off the field," he said.